TechCelerator@Hershey announces startup boot camp winner

TechCelerator@Hershey announces startup boot camp winner

On Nov. 13, graduates of the TechCelerator@Hershey presented their business plan concepts to a panel of local business professionals.

George Keller, a Penn State College of Medicine alumnus and president of Robometrics LLC, received the first prize of $7,500. Keller’s company will provide tele-presence robots at affordable prices.

“I am honored to receive this award and strongly recommend this program to any entrepreneur who is thinking about starting or running a small business,” said Keller.

Andrew Kelleher,doctoral candidate at the College of Medicine, was awarded $2,500 for his concept. Kelleher is developing a bed that will minimize muscular skeletal injuries to care providers when transferring patients into wheelchairs.

“This has been a fantastic experience and helped me understand how to bring the fruits of my research to a broader market. I encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity to put their ideas to work,” said Kelleher.

Two other developing companies successfully completed the startup boot camp and delivered final presentations.

The TechCelerator@Hershey is a program of Ben Franklin Technology Partners and is supported by Penn State College of Medicine, The Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Venture Investment Forum and the Hershey Center for Applied Research, which offers entrepreneurial training, business support and mentoring services for entrepreneurs in central Pennsylvania. The startup boot camp targets Penn State researchers with the desire to commercialize intellectual property.